Presenter: Hello and welcome! This is Green Horizons, where we discuss the latest environmental issues. In our studio today is Laura Jensen, an environmental activist from Canada who has been researching the impact of artificial intelligence on our planet. Laura, thanks for joining us!

Laura: Thank you for having me!

Presenter: AI is everywhere now. People use it for work, school, and even as a friend when they’re bored. What’s the danger in that?

Laura: The biggest danger is that it weakens essential human skills. When people stop thinking critically or solving problems on their own, they become dependent on AI. It starts with small things – asking AI to phrase an email or suggest what to eat for dinner – but over time, people lose confidence in their own decisionmaking.

Presenter: And that affects our minds too, right?

Laura: Oh, yeah. Studies show that relying too much on AI can reduce creativity and problem-solving abilities. And let’s be honest – AI can’t truly replace real human relationships. People need real conversations, real emotions. Talking only to AI can make loneliness worse. Also, studies suggest that too much AI use can make it harder to concentrate and remember things.

Presenter: That’s interesting. But I want to focus on the environmental side now. I think many people don’t realize AI has a massive carbon footprint.

Laura: Sadly, that’s true! The environmental impact of AI often gets ignored. AI is incredibly resource-hungry. It needs huge amounts of energy and water to function.

Presenter: Can you give us an example?

Laura: Sure! A simple AI-generated response might seem instant, but it’s not just happening in your phone – it’s processed in a massive data center where huge servers are processing your request. So, a simple question like “What’s the weather like today?” can use as much energy as boiling a kettle of water. More complex requests, like generating images or analyzing data, can use the same electricity as running a fridge for a whole day! Now imagine millions of people asking millions of questions daily – this adds up fast! The biggest AI models consume as much electricity as a small city. And in terms of water, these servers need constant cooling. One AI facility can use millions of liters per day! For example, training one large AI model can use as much water as making hundreds of cars!

Presenter: That’s insane! But technology always evolves. Back in my childhood, computers took up entire rooms if not buildings, and now they fit in our pockets. Won’t AI become more efficient too?

Laura: That’s a fair point. But we are at a critical moment. AI is expanding so fast that efficiency improvements can’t keep up. Demand is skyrocketing, and AI is becoming part of everyday life. If we don’t think about its environmental cost now, we might face serious consequences. Besides, it took quite a while for computers to become smaller. We really don’t have that much time today. Even before AI, we were struggling with climate change, water shortages, and energy crises. Now, AI is adding to those problems—maybe even doubling or tripling them.

Presenter: What’s at stake?

Laura: Data centers could become unsustainable, driving climate change even faster. If we don’t take action, we risk damaging the planet beyond repair. It’s time to ask ourselves: Do we really need AI for everything? Or should we start using it wisely – before it’s too late?

Presenter: That’s something to think about. Thank you, Laura, for this important conversation!

Laura: Thank you!

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